Three enterprising designers from Herefordshire have exhibited their work in Finland and Estonia as part of a scheme to forge international business relationships between artists and galleries.

Eight artists from the Marches area exhibited work at the British Embassy in Helsinki before moving on to Estonia, where the British embassy in Tallinn had arranged visits and meetings.

"It was a good opportunity for British artists to measure themselves in a competitive and discerning market," said organiser Paul Thompson, international trade advisor at Business Link West Mercia.

"Exporting is all about confidence and commitment and this can only be developed if good research is gathered. There is no better way than going to a market and seeing it for yourself."

The group included porcelain maker Bridget Drakeford, stoneware ceramic sculptor Tim Rawlins, and ceramicist Ken Eastman.

Fownhope-based Bridget, who had spent the month prior to the Finland trip exhibiting and researching in Japan, said the four-day visit was very successful, both in terms of providing a venue for the artists to show their work and make contacts with galleries.

"The quality of work in Estonia is amazing and it looks as though we'll be able to set up some workshops to exchange ideas," she said.

"Due to the limited market in Estonia we decided we wouldn't want to sell our work there."

Praising organiser Paul Thompson for the research he had done prior to the trip, and the contact base he had provided, she said that if the eight artists had gone over on a scatter mission they would never had got so far.

Three of the artists have made links with galleries interested in showing their work.

This was the second opportunity for Business Link members to participate in the scheme to export a cluster of artists.

For further details call 0845 6411641.